Acts chapter 2

vs 1

Well, that ruins the surprise. Oh, wait, Pentecost meant something before this didn't it? I think it was a jewish thing. The feast of weeks, apparently, was when the Jews celebrated the revelation of the Law on Sinai, and also was a wheat festival.

vs 2

Without warning. They were just sitting around one day. Sure, it was Pentecost, but they were just sitting and waiting to see what would happen.

vs 3

So it wasn't just audible, it was visible too. That's worth remembering next time someone says it happened to them.

vs 4

The way this verse reads, it sounds like they weren't able to speak in other languages whenever they wanted - instead, it was only when the Spirit enabled them. The important thing, anyway, was the coming of the Holy Spirit.

vs 5

Now, although they were in a house, it obviously wasn't totally private, because so many other people get involved. That said, they were all together, and 120 people don't just fit in someone's house.

The Jews were there for Pentecost I guess.

vs 6

Now, does that mean that they heard all different langauges at the same time, or does it mean that, out of the 120 people speaking, they heard their language being spoken?

vs 7-8

Note that their "native language" isn't Hebrew! These guys come from all over, and even though they are God-fearing, they spoke the local dialect of their home as 'their language'.

It was a pretty amazing thing to see. Or hear, anyway.

vs 9-11

Lots of different areas in there. Note that they weren't just blathering - they were declaring the wonders of God. For a Jew, that probably is nothing special. I am sure everyone in Jerusalem was doing that over Pentecost. But to be doing it in these languages is the amazing thing.

vs 12

They don't ask "How did this happen?" - because pretty much everyone was in a spiritual mood. It's a religious feast, they've travelled a long distance to be there, and while they might not have been expecting a miracl, it's only a little time after Jesus' death, and there's still probably a buzz around Jerusalem. So instead, the question revolves around what this means - what is God trying to say by making this happen?